BTC
-0.12%
81,528.00
USD
▼
MXN ≈ 1,507,698
cnbc.com
Trump waives broad new Russia sanctions, Zelenskyy condemns it as 'wrong'
Trump signed the Graham Bill, which targeted Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, into law in September.
cnbc.com
Semiconductor market to remain solid ‘at least through next year,’ South Korea finance minister says
South Korea's finance minister said semiconductor growth can last at least through 2027 as supply remains tight despite a global chip sell-off.
cnbc.com
Investors are buying up vast tracts of timberland across U.S. in one of market's longest-term bets
Timberland managers buying for pension funds and other institutional investors can wait decades for returns, but the market can also be a profit trap.
cnbc.com
Software’s new consolidator gets big vote of confidence from Berkshire
Less than four months into life as a public company, Bending Spoons got a big vote of confidence this week from Berkshire Hathaway.
theguardian.com
Why Britain should reject the lure of cheap – and scary – Chinese AI
In the west the technology comes with at least some effort to provide security and a benign intent – not so from ChinaThere is much to fear from artificial intelligence developed in China and handed to businesses and governments in the west almost free of charge.Every month Chinese AI developers such as DeepSeek and Xiaomi dispatch the latest versions of their “open-weight” models that allow users to take the core software and use it without paying an expensive ongoing licence. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Low-cost clinic helps pet owners with vet bills
RSPCA Medway West launches its clinic for the pets of people with low incomes.
theguardian.com
Move over, pervert glasses – the latest toxic trend is robogroping
Whenever a new technology is created, it will, without exception, immediately be used to harass girls and womenYou may be familiar with rule 34 of the internet, which states that if something exists or can be imagined, there will almost certainly be online porn of it. Now let me introduce my rule 35: whenever a new technology is created, it will, without exception, immediately be used to harass girls and women.See, for example, Meta’s “pervert glasses”. As anyone could have foreseen, putting a tiny camera and microphone into smartglasses would immediately lead to people using them to record and harass women. Lo and behold, that is exactly what happened. So-called manfluencers have filmed themselves trying to flirt with women in public spaces and then uploaded the footage to TikTok. The women in these videos are often not aware they’ve been recorded until their identities are shared online and they are harassed by strangers. And what’s Meta doing about this? It’s instituted a few bans and made some privacy updates, but doesn’t seem to have an appetite to properly solve the problem. Indeed, at the Meta Connect 2026 keynote, Mark Zuckerberg did not feel the need to apologize to the women whose lives have been upended by his technology. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Inside the long, bitter fight over one man’s quest to build the biggest AI datacenter in California
A modern-day prospector promised rural Imperial thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenue – but his plan has set off a firestorm of resistanceSebastian Rucci zoomed in on a map in late 2024, looking closely at a large block of brown earth. The barren plot sandwiched between sprawling alfalfa fields and sleepy desert suburbs was exactly what he’d been searching for – the perfect place to realize his dream of building the largest artificial intelligence datacenter in California.The dusty expanse wasn’t an obvious location. It was in the Sonoran desert, just north of the Mexican border, where temperatures regularly rose past 100F (37.8C). Water was scarce in the once-booming agricultural area, which gets its supply from the beleaguered Colorado River. And then, there was the city of Imperial – population 22,000 – to win over. As controversial datacenter projects have sprung up across the US, residents were naturally skeptical of a new, energy-guzzling neighbor. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bank of England governor walks out of IMF summit in protest against Russia
Andrew Bailey among finance leaders to leave session in Bangkok when Russian finance minister addressed groupThe Bank of England governor, Andrew Bailey, has taken part in a walkout of finance leaders who left an International Monetary Fund meeting in protest against Russian involvement.Bailey joined counterparts from France, Germany and a number of Scandinavian and Baltic countries who left the session in Bangkok when the Russian finance minister, Anton Siluanov, addressed the group in Russian. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From 3,000 feathers to pet portraits, Rolls-Royce rides high on custom craze
In our second in a series on high-end UK manufacturing, we visit the artisans producing rich clients’ bespoke luxury cars‘Our town is making jeans again’: meet the firm reviving jobs and skills in WalesThey are the plaything of kings, presidents and A-listers, with Rolls-Royce enthusiasts ranging from the Sultan of Brunei to Rowan Atkinson, from King Charles III to Kermit the frog.And at the carmaker’s factory in Goodwood, West Sussex, special requests from customers get more indulgent every year. An interior lined with 3,000 iridescent feathers, or a built-in champagne cooler, or a car built in homage to its owners’ dog, have all become part of the job. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The power of AI is worrying senior Labour figures – as is the fear of ‘falling behind the public’
Westminster appears to be waking up to warnings over AI safety, with concerns over its use by extremist groups and bad actors“I have this sense that, within a few months, AI is going to be all anyone is talking about,” said one cabinet minister, with an ominous stare.It was Labour conference, with everyone from ministers to activists jubilant at Andy Burnham’s takeover and a bounce in the polls after the change of leader. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
US corporate lobbyists mounted ‘blitz’ to dilute landmark EU deforestation law, report finds
Environmental watchdog Mighty Earth reveals two-year effort to postpone and weaken EU Deforestation RegulationUS corporate lobbyists launched a two-year “blitz” to postpone and weaken the world’s most progressive legislation to protect forests, according to a new investigation by the environmental watchdog Mighty Earth.Major US firms and trade associations, including Cargill, Bunge, Mondelēz and the US Soybean Export Council, as well as numerous other US firms and organizations, sought to influence the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) in more than 350 meetings, the advocacy group found. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Madeline Horwath on AI food advertising – cartoon
Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Countries are defying gravity’: how much longer can global economy resist chaos?
Sky-high oil prices and geopolitical turmoil have made less of a dent than feared … just don’t bank on it to lastInside the vast, glass-walled Queen Sirikit conference centre in Bangkok, the air-conditioned atmosphere was calm as policymakers from more than 100 countries gathered this week for the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting – and contemplated the surprising strength of the global economy.A small army of smiling, uniformed Thai staff were on hand to explain the baffling geography of the heavily guarded building, where lunch options were as cosmopolitan as the delegates – including, improbably, a Burger King. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘You can’t make this stuff up’: why we remain fascinated by Elizabeth Holmes
The entrepreneur turned fraudster is the subject of an Oscar-tipped new documentary that takes an unusual look at her strange legacyDavid Agus’s first encounter with Elizabeth Holmes at a health conference came as a shock. The Holmes he met in the green room was personable and pleasant. The Holmes he interviewed on stage was altogether different.“The accent changed: this deep voice, very serious,” Agus, a medical oncologist, recalls by phone from Los Angeles. “It was as if I had met a person and then interviewed a separate person. That transition from the green room to the stage – I had never experienced something like that before.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The hill I will die on: Cinemas have been getting away with lies. Films should begin on time | Jeffrey Ingold
If cinemas must run 20 minutes of adverts before a feature, they could at least be honest about it. Or, I have a better solution …Do you remember the last time you were lied to? I certainly do. I was tricked by the North Finchley Vue, which sold me and my boyfriend tickets to a 7.15pm showing of The Odyssey. Guess what was playing at 7.15pm? A car advert. Ten minutes later, it was a trailer for the horror film Werwulf. Then there was an advert for Vue – as if I wasn’t already there. The film was half an hour late to its own showing when it finally started at 7.45pm.I am sick and tired of cinemas getting away with such treachery. I don’t want to follow in the footsteps of my friend, who knows that the ads at her local run for 22 minutes so slinks in at just the right time. I shouldn’t have to do mental maths because I am being lied to by cinemas. We are all the victims of their predatory time-wasting system.Jeffrey Ingold is a freelance journalist covering LGBTQ+ issues, music and culture Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Stinky business: south London bike shop hit by ‘unbearable’ stench from Thames Water sewer
Owner and mechanics fear for their health and future of the Herne Hill shop with no date for fixing problemThe leafy south London neighbourhood of Herne Hill is a haven for cyclists who can often be seen lapping the local parks and refuelling at the many cafes that line the suburban streets. But there is something foul in the air of this corner of the capital – and for once it’s not the traffic fumes hitting bicycle riders.A toxic stench thought to be caused by untreated sewage stuck in Thames Water drains has been emanating from the subterranean depths for months, most likely caused by the summer’s lack of rain. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Squash down: smaller pumpkins expected this Halloween after drought in England
Data shows 2026 could be worst harvest on record, as growers suggest painting faces on vegetables instead of carvingIn the lead-up to Halloween, front porches across the country feature fat, proudly carved pumpkins, lit from within by tea lights.But this year there is likely to be a shortage due to drought, experts have warned, with the squashes much smaller than usual. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Plan to make firms pay more to train older workers than youth apprentices in England
Exclusive: Ministers considering overhaul of apprenticeship funding scheme to tackle youth jobs crisisEmployers in England are to be forced to pay more to train an older worker than a youth apprentice under plans being drawn up by the government to tackle the youth jobs crisis.The Guardian understands ministers plan to overhaul Labour’s apprenticeship funding scheme to increase the cost of training by 25% for a worker over the age of 25 in order to encourage businesses to train young people instead. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Austerity is inevitably painful’: How Michael Gove justifies his politics | Radical Thinking with Aditya Chakrabortty – podcast
For more than three decades, Michael Gove has been a leading figure in British Conservatism. As a journalist, government minister and now editor of the Tory bible, the Spectator, he has helped shape the right even as it has moved further rightwards. In the latest episode of Radical Thinking, Gove joins Aditya Chakrabortty to discuss the future of the right, his record on Brexit and austerity, and the Spectator’s position on IslamWatch the full episode with Michael Gove here. Aditya’s suggested reading:To read the fruits of Michael Gove’s dalliance with the Marxism Today gang, look up his essay in a 1998 collection called The Moderniser’s Dilemma: Radical Politics in the Age of BlairFor slalom ride through Michael Gove’s years in power, read The Demented Dalek by the historian Richard J Evans in the London Review of BooksTo learn more on what’s become of the British right, there’s a column by me for the GuardianJust why the most successful political party is now failing is analysed in-depth by Phil Burton-Cartledge in his book The Party’s Over: The Rise and Fall of the Conservatives from Thatcher to SunakPhil also writes a very good blog on British politics, which keeps a close eye on how each party is trying to marshall a coalition of voters. Here he is on Kemi BadenochGeoffrey Wheatcroft does an entertaining short narrative in Bloody Panico!:or, Whatever Happened to The Tory PartyFor more on the economics of the Cameron years, this paper is acute on how the Tories failed to move the UK away from being a country of renters towards a country of makers. Two of its authors will join us for a podcast later in the series.And if you want to read how Brexit may have cost the UK 8% of GDP, there’s this paper based on data from the Bank of EnglandFinally, on the Spectator read Nesrine Malik’s recent column in The GuardianWhy has Britain’s oldest political magazine become such a rabid cheerleader for Islamophobia? Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Call for more food funding due to high living cost
Deputy Louise Doublet does not think the cost of living was considered in the ending of a trial.
bbc.co.uk
Charity reflects on changing needs over 25 years
Help a Guernsey Child says it has provided in excess of £1.2m worth of essential support.
bbc.co.uk
Nightclubs are disappearing - and it's affecting young people
One young person said with no nightlife in their town they cannot "let loose and mess around".
theguardian.com
Palantir patient data tech rejected by many NHS trusts in England
Exclusive: health bodies across country say controversial US firm’s data platform no better than systems already in useNHS organisations that care for millions of people in England are rejecting Palantir’s patient data technology, according to freedom of information responses that reveal health bosses believe they can find better or equal alternatives in many cases.Some health bodies said the £330m federated data platform (FDP) operated by the controversial US company had made it easier to manage waiting lists and has improved surgery scheduling. But, from Gateshead to Truro, others said they were declining to use it or had carried out trials and reverted to old systems. A Suffolk trust said other systems “supercede” the FDP’s functionality, while Greater Manchester’s care board called the Palantir system “duplicative” and “retrograde”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK sees growing demand for help bridging gap between end of work and start of pension
Fixed-term annuities give income for a set period – such as five or 10 years – and an agreed lump sum at the endFinancial firms are reporting growing demand for a product that helps bridge the gap between stopping work and getting your pension.Sales of retirement annuities have risen sharply during the last couple of years, and now advisers are seeing a fresh surge of interest in what they say is one of the market’s “lesser-known” options. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump's Russia diesel deal may offer Putin more than money — and spell trouble for Ukraine
Trump's diesel deal may do little for Russia's finances, but it raises bigger questions about Ukraine's leverage, U.S. support and Putin's next moves.
cnbc.com
Some companies give AI to everyone. This CEO is doing the opposite
Paysend CEO Ben Chisell limits AI tools to top performers as other U.K. companies push broader workplace rollouts.
theguardian.com
Not cool: who hacked France’s supermarket fridges?
Whether it was youngsters proving their skills or state sabotage, Europe’s most hacked country was left with a mountain of waste after food began cooking in freezersShortly before midnight last Sunday, the digital thermostats controlling hundreds of supermarket cold aisles across France began to flicker and rise.In a “bizarre and unprecedented” cyber-attack, hackers had remotely overridden the temperature settings on thousands of freezers, fridges and chiller cabinets pushing them from as low as -27C (-16.6F) to well over 50C (122F). Continue reading...
theguardian.com
China’s tourists flock to experience a pretend typhoon as ‘dark tourism’ flourishes
The concept of ‘paying to suffer’ soars in popularity, with simulated disasters proving a modern twist on visiting sites of historic tragedies When Leon Lv was looking for somewhere to travel last year, she turned to the Chinese social media app RedNote for ideas. The algorithm took her to videos of people struggling to survive typhoon-strength winds and flash floods.“I never experienced a typhoon. I don’t know how it will feel and what will happen. I just have seen it on the news,” says the 28-year-old from Chongqing in south-west China. “So that’s why I want to go there to have a safe place to experience it and learn something.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Apple’s $1,999 iPhone Duo puts the company's status-symbol power to the test
Apple’s $1,999 iPhone Duo is drawing early demand as analysts assess whether the foldable can lift iPhone pricing and revenue.
cnbc.com
5 midterm money takeaways: Democrats have candidate cash. Republicans have Elon Musk
Democrats outraise Republicans in key Congress races as Elon Musk funds Ken Paxton in Texas and GOP groups aligned with Trump.
theguardian.com
Healey backs pro-growth case for Heathrow third runway after Burnham ducks issue
Chancellor says government will study responses to public consultation, with airports being ‘big part of jobs and growth’John Healey has said there is a pro-growth case for going ahead with a third runway at Heathrow despite the prime minister declining to back it.Healey’s predecessor as chancellor, Rachel Reeves, put approval of the long-planned runway at the heart of her “growth speech” last year, saying it would “make Britain the world’s best-connected place to do business”. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Trump says White House didn't order Starlink restrictions in Ukraine
Ukrainian officials complained this week that SpaceX had limited internet connectivity without advance notice.
cnbc.com
Here's who Netflix just brought in to run content — and what it means for the streamer
Peter Rice brings a wealth of experience in TV and film, including scripted and unscripted shows, live sports, prestige television and theatrical distribution.
theguardian.com
No 10 leaves option open to impose Chinese EV tariffs if UK joins EU scheme
Beijing warns against ‘discriminatory’ step after France drops opposition to British role in Made in Europe packageNo 10 has left the door open to imposing tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles as part of the Made in Europe package, prompting a warning from Beijing that such a move would be “discriminatory”.Downing Street said on Friday that it would “welcome the objective to have the UK included in the Industrial Accelerator Act” after France dropped its opposition to Britain joining the scheme. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Why Trump and the GOP's billion-dollar midterm blitz isn’t working
Trump-aligned groups and Elon Musk have poured hundreds of millions into the midterm election, but the GOP spending surge has barely moved polls or the map.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the banks: too big to fail cannot mean too big to tax | Editorial
Financiers owe their windfalls and bonuses to higher interest rates. Britain should reclaim more for the public and resist City lobbyingJohn Healey is planning to tax British banks, the Guardian revealed, in the forthcoming budget. It’s about time for the chancellor to act. Banks have been raking it in. The campaign group Positive Money reported this summer that Britain’s four biggest banks made £29bn in the first half of this year, up a fifth on 2025. These windfalls owe more to higher interest rates than better products or services. Households and businesses pay more to borrow. Meanwhile, the Bank of England pays the banks tens of billions in interest on their reserves, with the Treasury footing the bill.The chancellor is said to favour restoring the bank surcharge from 3% to 8%, which could raise around £2bn a year. This would recover a very modest share of the sector’s bonanza. Louis XIV’s finance minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, said that “the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing”. Britain’s banks have plenty of feathers. That hasn’t stopped them hissing. The banks say that they already face higher taxes than other companies, that they won’t be able to lend as much, and that their profits won’t last.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. presses China on Mastercard, Citigroup market access in bilateral Bangkok talks, official says
The U.S. raised market access issues for Mastercard and Citigroup in China during bilateral meetings in Bangkok this week, a U.S. Treasury official says.
theguardian.com
Extreme heatwaves in Europe not changing Britons’ holiday plans, say travel bosses
Hot summer getaways are still popular – but tourism industry fears impact of rising jet fuel costs and squeezed household incomesAfter a year marked by extreme heat and war sending fuel prices skywards, British travel executives hoped for solace in Madeira’s benign subtropical climate, separated by hundreds of miles of blue sea from the overtourism protests and six-hour EU-entry queues seen on the Portuguese mainland.As bosses admitted, holidays will be ever less affordable, AI is coming for their jobs, and the visitable world is shrinking – not least those parts where tourists remain welcome. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Tesla unveils long-delayed Roadster developed with SpaceX, fueling merger speculation
Elon Musk first debuted the Roadster refresh concept in 2017 but Tesla has since missed every targeted delivery date.
cnbc.com
Europe's answer to SpaceX rises 18% as Ukraine's Starshield limits raise concerns
Eutelsat's shares soared this week and continued climbing on Friday as its competitor Starshield drew criticism over its limitations in Ukraine.
theguardian.com
Target pensions or welfare, not banks, IMF tells John Healey
Supporters of planned tax, however, say banks were bailed out by taxpayers during financial crisis and can afford to pay more nowJohn Healey poised to raise taxes on banks in budgetThe International Monetary Fund has urged John Healey to target savings on pensions and welfare, instead of taxing Britain’s banks at the budget later this month.Helge Berger, deputy director of the IMF’s European department, was asked about bank taxes after the Guardian revealed Healey plans to tap the sector for additional revenue. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK risks losing key role in European space industry over satellite contract, says Airbus boss
Guillaume Faury writes to Andy Burnham warning him against choosing US firm Lockheed Martin to build Skynet satellitesThe boss of Airbus has told Andy Burnham that choosing its US rival Lockheed Martin to manufacture military satellites could cost the UK a key role in the European space industry, intensifying a last-minute lobbying effort for the £2.4bn contract.It is understood that Guillaume Faury, the chief executive of France-headquartered Airbus, has written to the prime minister suggesting that the choice of provider of the Skynet system could have effects for decades to come on the UK’s strength in military satellites in Europe, in an effort to tip the contract away from its US rival. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The ultra-rich are spending one million dollars a day fighting California’s proposed billionaire tax
Tech billionaires have raised more than $340m to defeat Prop 40, a one-time 5% wealth tax that will fund healthcare and educationTech billionaires have been dumping hundreds of millions of dollars into the fight against a wealth tax in California. They’ve raised more than $340m, and the campaign they’re funding is spending more than $1m a day to defeat the measure, according to state financial disclosures.With the election less than a month away, those funds are being spent at a stepped-up pace. During the first 19 days of September, according to the most recent campaign filings, the opposition campaign plowed through at least $21.2m to fight the billionaire tax – surpassing $1m per day. Voters are being inundated with robotexts, mailers and advertisements that warn a tax on billionaires would “expose all Californians to higher taxes”, as one ad reads. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Stock fixing scandal could see Turkish companies frozen out of global indexes
Turkey's status as an emerging market is also at risk.
cnbc.com
Fed's Warsh withholds rate signal, praises recent global tightening
Warsh refrained from signaling another interest rate hike this month, pointed to a "synchronous tightening" by central banks in the fight against inflation.
theguardian.com
British food and drink exports to EU collapse by more than a third since Brexit
NFU analysis of official data shows falls in exports to UK’s largest trading partner since 2019 include 70% for sugar and 74% for egg productsExports of British food and drink to the EU have collapsed by more than a third since Brexit with eggs, chicken and potato producers badly hit, new figures show.Analysis by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) of HMRC data shows a sharp fall in exports in the year to July compared with the same period in 2019, with sugar dropping the most, down 70%. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Watch: Did Tesla really just unveil a flying car?
Tesla CEO Elon Musk showcased the vehicle at a facility owned by his SpaceX company, which helped develop the model.
theguardian.com
Elon Musk reveals ‘world’s first flying car’ at Tesla event
The Tesla Roadster 2 drove up a curved ramp before using SpaceX rocket thrusters to fly, flip and landElon Musk has revealed Tesla’s latest model, which he claims will be the world’s first flying car, using technology from his aerospace company SpaceX to “basically fly like a rocket”.The billionaire, who hosted a demonstration of the Tesla Roadster 2 at the SpaceX rocket development and testing facility in Texas, said the sports car could go from 0 to 60mph in a record time of less than a second and had thrusters. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
I watched Nvidia's Jensen Huang work the room in London. He brought big checks — and a blunt message
Nvidia has a near monopoly over the most powerful AI chips and Huang courts tech execs and world leaders with ease.
theguardian.com
‘We should all be worried’: calls grow to limit London rollout of robotaxis
Protest planned at Wayve HQ as Uber drivers fear for their future and city’s politicians demand TfL should have power over licencesFor passengers in Britain who want to try the latest ride, robotaxis are eagerly awaited: more than 100,000 are on Uber’s waitlist in London after the first UK services started in September.Others view them with trepidation. “I think we should all be worried,” said Florentina Ghiuzan, an Uber driver from Essex. “I was shocked TfL approved it so soon. I knew change would come. But I thought it would come with a solution for us.” Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Norway's $2 trillion wealth fund was frozen out of major defense companies. That may be about to change
Existing ethical rules mean the fund is not permitted to invest in companies like Lockheed Martin and Boeing.
cnbc.com
U.S. Starlink curbs embolden Russia to intensify attacks on Ukraine, minister tells CNBC
Ukraine is seeking winter energy and air-defense support as Russian strikes intensify and Starlink limits disrupt military operations.
bbc.co.uk
Banks expect to be hit with higher taxes in Budget
Senior banking executives have told the BBC they expect to be "on the menu" in the chancellor's Budget tax later this month.
cnbc.com
Trump says he won't use nuclear weapons or send ground troops to Iran
Trump said he would not use nuclear weapons against Iran or send ground troops as the U.S. reportedly weighs new strike options.
theguardian.com
AI threatens democracy. But we are not powerless: here’s how to fight back | Carine Fouteau
Tech platforms pillage public-interest journalism for profit. But we have leverage as they sow the seeds of their own downfallCarine Fouteau is president and publishing director of the French investigative news outlet MediapartBig tech companies pose an immeasurable threat: socially, politically, militarily and ecologically. They are also causing a profound crisis of information. The tools they design now serve as weapons of mass destruction against democracy. There is so much at stake that an urgent and broad mobilisation is required.From the harvesting of personal data and the weaponisation of public opinion, to the destruction of jobs, the infringement of civil liberties and environmental damage, ordinary citizens are the main victims of this predatory economy – an economy with an agenda that aligns with the interests of the planet’s most authoritarian and reactionary states.Carine Fouteau is president and publishing director of the French investigative news outlet MediapartMediapart is hosting Hacking Big Tech, a public event about technology, AI and democracy in partnership with the Guardian, in Paris on Saturday 17 October 2026. The conference will be live-streamed free on Mediapart’s website, app and YouTube channel and can be accessed here from 1pm CEST on 17 October Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Revealed: VW, Ford and Tesla batteries linked to destructive deforestation of indigenous lands
Mines in supply chains of western carmakers linked to widespread deforestation of primary rainforest in nickel-rich lands inhabited by Tolaki people in IndonesiaVolkswagen, Ford and Tesla are among the electric carmakers whose batteries may contain nickel mined in indigenous woodlands plagued by deforestation, an analysis has found, highlighting the struggle to make vehicles that are free from environmental destruction.Corporate disclosures and trade flows from the last two years show mines in the battery supply chains of automotive giants are linked to the loss of trees in Sulawesi, a wildlife hotspot in Indonesia that houses the world’s largest nickel deposits. The metal is widely used in cathodes in car batteries because it boosts energy density and increases range. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From Dallaglio’s medals to Cantona’s shorts, sporting memorabilia is big business | Emma John
Like transfer fees and ticket prices, mementoes are one more marker of sport’s rampant self-inflationThe auctioneer cradled his gavel in his palm like a pipe, the handle pointing towards him. It gave his patter the air of a Victorian gentleman holding forth by the mantelpiece in a period drama. “Are you bidding, Wilf? You’re waving at me.” Under the hammer was a Barclays Manager of the Month trophy, complete with travel case, but no indication of which Premier League luminary once owned it. It outstripped its estimate and sold for £700.An hour and a half into what Budds auction house dubbed its “Octoberfest” of sporting memorabilia, David Convery at the podium showed no sign of fatigue, save the occasional swig from a water bottle. There were 332 lots in total; Convery regularly manages sales with twice as many. In his three decades as an auctioneer he’s even secured some world-record prices, from the oldest surviving FA Cup to Pelé’s 1970 World Cup final shirt. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Marco Rubio to visit Indian billionaire Ambani's refinery in Gujarat as U.S. diesel prices surge
Not only is Ambani's Reliance investing in a U.S. refinery and buying Venezuelan oil, but its strong ability to supply diesel has put Jamnagar on the map during Rubio's visit.
cnbc.com
What to know about Starshield, SpaceX's military-focused Starlink service
Elon Musk distinguished Starshield from Starlink, which he said could not be used for offensive military operations.
cnbc.com
Russia returns to G20 table in Bangkok on U.S. invitation that angers Europe
Russia’s return to the G20 table has tested how far Washington’s outreach to Moscow will strain ties with European allies.
theguardian.com
Homes with striking interiors for sale in England – in pictures
From a brick stable block renovated into an eco home to a Georgian townhouse painted in atmospheric shades of grey Continue reading...
cnbc.com
One Singapore ship was sunk, but here's why others are still transiting the Strait of Hormuz
Singapore vessels are set to continue navigating the perilous Strait of Hormuz despite attacks on two container ships, said maritime experts.
bbc.co.uk
Fuel costs squeezing margins for some businesses
Diesel recently topped £2 per litre and there is concern that a duty freeze will not go far enough.
theguardian.com
The right’s scrounger rhetoric dominates the benefits debate. Labour must fight back – and win | Frances Ryan
The prime minister has a once-in-a-generation chance to reintroduce fairness to the system. He has to seize the momentBack in 2009, months before the coalition government unleashed sweeping austerity, the then Conservative backbencher Iain Duncan Smith produced a study that would go on to lay the foundations for the rollout of universal credit. Now, nearly two decades later, Duncan Smith and his thinktank, the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), has published State of Dependency: a landmark report promising to expose “the full scale of Britain’s worklessness crisis”.The study paints a picture of mass benefits reliance: it identifies 3,400 local areas where more than half the working-age population are on out-of-work benefits, or “economic opiates”, as the authors call them. They’ve even provided an interactive map (in the yellow and black colours of a road hazard sign, no less) so members of the public can type in their postcode to see if their neighbourhood is “a welfare hotspot”.Frances Ryan is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Commercial kitchen staff exposed to high levels of air pollution, study finds
US research says nitrogen dioxide in restaurants that cook with gas can exceed WHO limits, which also affects dinersEach time we enjoy a meal out or order a takeaway, someone cooks for us in a commercial kitchen. In the UK, 3.6 million people work in catering and hospitality. In the US it is estimated at close to 16 million. A first-of-its-kind study in the US has found catering staff can experience high air pollution at work – and that this can affect diners too.Dr Drew Michanowicz, senior author of the study at non-profit research institute PSE Healthy Energy, said: “I was motivated by what we have learned over the years about what just 30 minutes of gas cooking can do to air quality in homes with the realisation that millions of people cook for a living for hours on end.” Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Ship attack reports near Hormuz reach record high as oil exports slow
BBC Verify analysis of data from a UK maritime agency shows 12 vessels were struck in a week.
cnbc.com
The IPO drought is driving private equity-owned companies to the debt market to pay investors
Private equity firms are increasingly using debt-funded dividend recaps to return cash to investors as exits remain subdued.
theguardian.com
‘A completely unique opportunity’: the secretive process that will decide the BBC’s future – podcast
Every decade, the BBC’s continued existence must be secured through an elaborate multi-year negotiation with the government. But what does charter renewal actually involve – and will it secure the BBC’s long-term future?By Barbara Speed. Read by Carlyss PeerRead the text version hereSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/longreadpod Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘People’s dignity, and democracy, is at stake’: meet the economist ditching ideology for reality
Exclusive: Isabella Weber prescribes a common-sense solution to poverty, inequality and fascism – making life’s essentials affordable for allThe trouble with economists, Isabella Weber believes, is they do not behave like dentists. They obsess over ideological purity and are inflexible when searching for solutions, regardless of society’s symptoms. Dentists have no such pretensions – patients have little patience for dogma when in insufferable pain.John Maynard Keynes, Weber clarifies in the canteen of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (Berlin’s Institute for Advanced Study), was the first to draw this dental comparison – and she is running with it. As she sees it, the symptoms could not be more severe. “The status quo for the majority is entirely unbearable,” while extreme inequality and corporate concentration has reached levels “simply incompatible with democracy” worldwide. This is exacerbated by a climate crisis that “generates massive windfall profits” for big business as the “ecological foundations of our lives disintegrate”. All the while the far right is making hay. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Hybe shares jump 10% as K-pop sensation BTS' tour lifts earnings hopes
BTS' world tour and rising global demand for newer K-pop acts are fueling earnings expectations, sending Hybe shares soaring.
bbc.co.uk
Living with a stink? Technology might help
Smells from rubbish dumps and industrial facilities are being more carefully monitored.
bbc.co.uk
I find it quite demoralising in store - why I do all my shopping online
After Primark announced plans for home delivery, we hear from women who never go into clothes stores.
cnbc.com
People in China are spending nearly as much of their income as Americans on healthcare
Increasing government spending on healthcare could help boost consumption in China, the International Monetary Fund said.
cnbc.com
CoreWeave credit default swaps hit distress levels as investors sour on AI debt
Signs of distressed deepened in CoreWeave on Thursday.
bbc.co.uk
'I'd spend $1,000 on a wedding present'
New Yorkers share how much they spend on a wedding gift - and how they decide.
bbc.co.uk
'I paid thousands to a company for jobs that never came'
Apurv Patel is one of several people who say they were promised job opportunities that did not appear.
bbc.co.uk
Nandy 'minded to intervene' in Sky's £1.6bn takeover of ITV entertainment arm
The culture secretary says the deal could affect free expression in the media and the variety of Britain's news landscape.
bbc.co.uk
Healey says surprise UK growth is 'sign of resilience' ahead of Budget
The economy grew by 0.1% in August, defying analysts' expectations of a slight contraction.
theguardian.com
Is Andy Burnham in hot water over Manchester City? – podcast
Andy Burnham is being accused of a serious misjudgment over his comments about meetings with Manchester City’s owners. Kiran Stacey discusses the controversy after returning from a trade trip to India with the business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, and the new Greater Manchester mayor, Bev Craig, during which Stacey discovered that a representative of the football club was also present. The club was recently found guilty of 114 breaches of Premier League rules. What could the fallout mean for Burnham?You can watch Politics Weekly on our YouTube channel here Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
AI giant Anthropic woos potential investors ahead of stock market debut
It comes as some investors have become concerned about the amount of money being spent on AI infrastructure.
cnbc.com
From 'Dune' to 'Wicker,' how this ‘tiny’ European country became a hub for Hollywood
Hungary, a small country in central Europe, has played a major part in the movie business since the late 19th century.
bbc.co.uk
How backlash against data centres could shape the US midterm elections
Democrats and Republicans alike are coming out against data centre development, amid growing backlash across the US.
bbc.co.uk
As Christmas rush looms, how do China-made toys find their way to the US?
With the festive season on the horizon, we trace toys from factories in China to US shelves.
bbc.co.uk
How much is the minimum wage?
What are the National Minimum Wage and the National Living Wage, and how much are they worth?
bbc.co.uk
Drop-off charges at UK airports to be reviewed after sharp increase
Confirming the review, the government said it was "vital to ensure travel remains accessible and that passengers are treated fairly".
bbc.co.uk
Netflix to shed 1,000 jobs in steepest cuts since 2022
The cuts equate to around 6% of the streaming giant's total workforce worldwide.
bbc.co.uk
Toilet paper and secret recorders: What we know about the arrest of the Saudi OpenAI engineer
Abdulrahman Alfozan had worked for the AI giant for more than a year before he was arrested by the FBI.
bbc.co.uk
US inflation rises more than expected - here's what is happening with prices
The pace of price rises increased to 3.7% in the year to September, driving by higher motor fuel costs.
bbc.co.uk
Driving test waits fall to two-year low - but still average 20 weeks
Learner drivers in September had to wait an average of 19.7 weeks, or around five months, for a practical test.
bbc.co.uk
Wayfair among firms fined millions for misleading sales tactics
The Competition and Markets Authority has fined Wayfair, Appliances Direct, and Gold's Gym £6m in total.
bbc.co.uk
Civil servant faked illness with make-up to juggle five jobs, court hears
Kashim Chowdhury is accused of fraudulently juggling multiple government jobs while working from home.
bbc.co.uk
Faisal Islam: What surprise praise for UK economy tells us about the Budget
On three occasions in the past 24 hours, top IMF officials have praised UK plans to reduce its annual levels of borrowing.
bbc.co.uk
'I applied for 200 jobs' - How 'spray and pray' AI job applications can backfire
Graduates are increasingly using AI to misrepresent themselves in job applications, research suggests. But some say their peer group has no choice.
bbc.co.uk
Hundreds of Royal Mail staff quitting each week under new efficiency plans
The CWU says more posties are leaving since a new delivery system was brought in that it claims is not working in hundreds of offices.
theguardian.com
Energy bills through the roof? Five signs your house is leaking heat
From finding draughts to buying a thermal leak detector – there are simple, cost-effective ways to start sorting heat lossHow to storm-proof your home, from roof tiles to garden fencesPick a day when there is a good breeze, and heat the house to its usual temperature. Then wander around with a candle or smoke pen (about £20). Alternatively, buy a thermal leak detector. This flashes blue for cold, green for normal and red for warm. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
Not building third runway would be 'huge missed opportunity', warns Heathrow boss
Thomas Woldbye tells the Today progamme it would be "good to know" the government's position on the project, after comments made by the prime minister.
bbc.co.uk
Bank of America hit with $1.2bn fine for money laundering failings
The bank inadequately flagged transactions linked to potential Chinese money laundering networks, the Treasury said.
bbc.co.uk
How long will humans be needed for translation?
AI dominates the translation business, but for high-stakes work, humans are still needed.
bbc.co.uk
NI company in talks to save Poundland from administration
Poundland says Martin Property Group from Londonderry is the management team's "preferred partner"
cnbc.com
As 'Cockroach' protests grow over alleged voter fraud, Modi defends India as ‘mother of democracy’
Protests in India demanding the removal of the chief election commissioner for alleged voter fraud have intensified.
theguardian.com
BT charged me for more than a year despite landline being dead
It is billing £32.99 a month but I have had no functioning phone line since it switched me to Digital VoiceI’ve had no landline since May 2025 when BT switched it to Digital Voice. Weeks passed, and each call to BT involved at least an hour waiting on hold and answering security questions before being passed between departments.Eventually, last December, two engineers were sent and discovered that a wire had been severed during the upgrade. They said they needed a cherry picker to reconnect it to its original location and would return. They did not. Continue reading...
bbc.co.uk
What are your rights on auto-renew subscriptions?
Martin has advice for listeners caught out by auto-renewing subscriptions, explaining what rights consumers have and whether there's a way to challenge the renewal or cancel.
bbc.co.uk
Money Box
What age will you get your state pension?
bbc.co.uk
Why are more roofs not made of solar tiles?
Solar tiles were touted as an attractive alternative to solar panels - why have they not taken off?
bbc.co.uk
How oil-rich Alberta's economy might fare if it broke away from Canada
Albertans vote this month on staying in Canada or moving ahead to a binding independence referendum.
bbc.co.uk
Rainmakers: The drones used to seed clouds
Cloud seeding is gaining attention as countries look to boost rainfall - will drones help?
bbc.co.uk
The AI telling farmers when to harvest
Will farmers want AI tools to help judge when to pick fruit, or is their own intuition enough?
bbc.co.uk
The start-ups hoping to return battery making to the US
Batteries based on sodium-ion technology could be made in the US with locally sourced materials.
bbc.co.uk
My hometown shows that high streets have to change or die
Aberdeen is launching an ambitious bid to revive its struggling centre. Could it offer lessons for other high streets?
bbc.co.uk
Europe's car makers are in crisis. Will the threat of war rescue them?
Auto executives across Europe hope rearmament can help them flex their industrial muscles once more.
bbc.co.uk
X-planes: Are they needed in the new era of drones?
Where do America's X-plane projects fit in an era of cheap drones?
bbc.co.uk
How the oil capital of the US welcomed a solar power boom
Texas is now the country's biggest producer of solar-farmed electricity.
bbc.co.uk
Spain battles climate change on several fronts
A summer of wildfires and heatwaves underlines the threats to the country's economy.
bbc.co.uk
The virtual worlds where robots are trained
Training systems that allow robots to negotiate the real world are getting more sophisticated.
bbc.co.uk
Would you buy branded clothing from your favourite tech firm?
Nvidia, OpenAI and Anthropic are all now selling their own limited edition fashion lines.
bbc.co.uk
Aviation faces hotter, stormier skies – and passengers might have to accept more disruption
Are people going to have to increasingly accept more delays and diversions as the effects of climate change intensify?
bbc.co.uk
Why the UK is dithering over what to do about e-scooters
Why is it taking so long for the government to regulate them, and what are the consequences of delay?
bbc.co.uk
Why Gen Z are planning for life without a state pension
Many younger people do not believe the state pension will exist when they are older
💬 Comments